How Much Does a Marina Slip Cost in Seattle?

Monthly moorage in the Seattle area generally runs $8 to $16 per foot per month, depending on the marina, the depth of water, and whether you want covered or open moorage. For a 32 foot boat, that lands somewhere between $260 and $510 a month. Transient (overnight) slips run roughly $1.25 to $2.25 per foot per night in season.

I don't run a marina in Seattle, I run a dive service in San Diego, but I get calls from boat owners moving up and down the coast asking how their current slip cost compares to what they'd pay somewhere else. Seattle comes up a lot because it's a big, active harbor with a wide spread of pricing depending on which body of water you're in.

Key takeaways

• Monthly moorage typically runs $8 to $16 per foot depending on marina and covered vs. open slip.
• Lake Union and Lake Washington marinas tend to sit at the higher end, often $12 to $18 per foot, partly due to freshwater demand and limited slip inventory.
• Shilshole Bay Marina (Port of Seattle, saltwater, Puget Sound) is often cited as a mid-range benchmark, roughly $9 to $13 per foot depending on slip size and covered status.
• Transient/guest moorage runs about $1.25 to $2.25 per foot per night, higher in peak summer months.
• Liveaboard fees are common and typically add $100 to $300+ per month on top of base moorage.

What does a slip actually cost in Seattle right now?

Rates vary enough by marina that giving one number would be misleading. As a rough guide for a 30 to 40 foot boat:

Shilshole Bay Marina, run by the Port of Seattle, is one of the larger and better known marinas on Puget Sound. Open slip moorage there tends to land in the $9 to $13 per foot range monthly, with covered slips (when available) running higher.

Elliott Bay Marina, closer to downtown, tends to price similarly or slightly above Shilshole, partly for the view and the shorter commute to the city.

Lake Union marinas, being freshwater and centrally located, often carry a premium. You'll see quotes in the $12 to $18 per foot range, and slip availability is tighter, so waitlists are common.

Smaller municipal marinas (Des Moines, Shoreline area facilities) can come in a bit lower, sometimes $7 to $10 per foot, but availability and slip size options are more limited.

These are the kinds of ranges I'd expect based on general Pacific Northwest marina pricing patterns. Rates change year to year and marina to marina, so always call and confirm current pricing before you budget against it.

Why does Seattle pricing spread so much?

A few things drive the differences:

Saltwater vs. freshwater. Freshwater slips on Lake Union and Lake Washington are in high demand partly because they don't require the same antifouling and corrosion management that saltwater does. That demand pushes prices up despite the maintenance being easier on the boat.

Covered vs. open moorage. A covered slip protects the boat from rain and sun and usually costs meaningfully more per foot, sometimes 20 to 40 percent above open moorage at the same marina.

Proximity to downtown. Marinas closer to the city core (Lake Union, Elliott Bay) tend to command a premium over marinas further out, similar to how waterfront real estate works anywhere.

Depth and dredging. Puget Sound has deep water close to shore in a lot of places, which is actually a cost advantage for Seattle compared to some East Coast and Gulf Coast harbors that need regular dredging, a cost that eventually shows up in slip fees.

How does this compare to other West Coast harbors?

I work in San Diego Bay, so I'll use it as the comparison point I actually know firsthand. Slip rates in San Diego marinas commonly run in a similar $8 to $15 per foot monthly range, with premium marinas near Shelter Island and Harbor Island sometimes exceeding that. San Diego doesn't have the freshwater/saltwater price split you see in Seattle since everything here is saltwater bay, but it does have similar premiums for covered slips and prime downtown-adjacent locations.

Further north, Pacific Northwest marinas outside the immediate Seattle metro (places like Everett, Tacoma) tend to run somewhat lower, often $6 to $10 per foot, reflecting less downtown demand pressure.

Compared to Florida or the Gulf Coast, Seattle's rates are generally on the higher side. Gulf Coast marinas frequently price in the $5 to $9 per foot range outside of a few high-demand pockets like the Florida Keys or certain South Florida marinas, which can spike well above that.

What else adds to the real monthly cost?

The per-foot rate is rarely the whole bill. Budget for:

Liveaboard fees, if you're living on the boat, often $100 to $300+ a month on top of moorage, sometimes with a waitlist for approval.

Power and water, either metered separately or bundled into a flat monthly add-on, commonly $30 to $80 a month depending on usage and marina policy.

Pump-out fees, sometimes included, sometimes billed per use.

Insurance requirements, most marinas require proof of liability coverage before they'll assign a slip.

None of this is unique to Seattle. It's the same pattern in San Diego, in Newport Beach, in Annapolis. The per-foot rate gets the headline, but the add-ons are what make one marina actually cheaper or more expensive than another once you do the real math.

FAQ

How much is a boat slip in Seattle per month? Most Seattle-area marinas price monthly moorage between $8 and $16 per foot, so a 30 foot boat typically runs $240 to $480 a month before add-ons like power, water, and liveaboard fees.

Is Lake Union more expensive than Puget Sound marinas? Generally yes. Lake Union and Lake Washington marinas often price at the higher end of the range, sometimes $12 to $18 per foot, due to limited freshwater slip inventory and central location.

Do Seattle marinas charge for covered slips separately? Yes, covered moorage typically costs more than open moorage at the same marina, often 20 to 40 percent higher per foot, since it protects the boat from sun and rain exposure.

How much does transient moorage cost in Seattle for a night? Guest or transient slips generally run $1.25 to $2.25 per foot per night, with rates trending higher during peak summer boating season.

Are there hidden costs beyond the per-foot slip rate? Almost always. Expect additional charges for power, water, pump-out service, and liveaboard status if applicable, which can add $100 to $400+ a month depending on the marina and your usage.

Bottom line on Seattle slip costs

Seattle slip pricing spreads out more than a lot of boaters expect, mostly driven by freshwater vs. saltwater location and proximity to downtown. If you're comparing Seattle to another harbor, get quotes from two or three marinas directly rather than relying on any single published rate, since availability and seasonal pricing shift things quickly. If you've got questions about how this compares to your home harbor, feel free to reach out, I'm always happy to talk boats and moorage even outside my own backyard.

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SCHEMA NOTES

FAQPage Q&As: 1. Q: How much is a boat slip in Seattle per month? A: Most Seattle-area marinas price monthly moorage between $8 and $16 per foot, so a 30 foot boat typically runs $240 to $480 a month before add-ons like power, water, and liveaboard fees. 2. Q: Is Lake Union more expensive than Puget Sound marinas? A: Generally yes. Lake Union and Lake Washington marinas often price at the higher end of the range, sometimes $12 to $18 per foot, due to limited freshwater slip inventory and central location. 3. Q: Do Seattle marinas charge for covered slips separately? A: Yes, covered moorage typically costs more than open moorage at the same marina, often 20 to 40 percent higher per foot, since it protects the boat from sun and rain exposure. 4. Q: How much does transient moorage cost in Seattle for a night? A: Guest or transient slips generally run $1.25 to $2.25 per foot per night, with rates trending higher during peak summer boating season. 5. Q: Are there hidden costs beyond the per-foot slip rate? A: Almost always. Expect additional charges for power, water, pump-out service, and liveaboard status if applicable, which can add $100 to $400+ a month depending on the marina and your usage.

BlogPosting summary: A practical breakdown of monthly and transient marina slip costs across Seattle-area harbors, comparing Lake Union, Shilshole, and Puget Sound marinas against other West Coast pricing benchmarks.

Suggested images: - Alt: "Rows of sailboats and powerboats moored at a Seattle-area marina on Puget Sound" - Alt: "Aerial view of Lake Union marinas near downtown Seattle showing dense slip moorage"